Shelving



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F, A. sAAF SHELVING Filed Dec. 10, 1932 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 F. A. SAAF Feb.y 12, 1935.

sgELvING y Filed Dec. l0, 1932.

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. EIN@ AFeb.12,1935.v P ASMF 1,990,756-

SHELVING Filed Dec. 10, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- `indented Feb. 12, 193s UNITED STATES SHELVING Fritz A. saar, Aurora, nl., mignon' to .u1-steel- I Equip Company, a corporation of Illinois' Application December 10, 1932, Serial No. 646,650 comme. (c1. zii-14s) This invention relates to the construction of sheet metal shelving used particularly in libraries, schools, oiiices, homes and ,other places where it is necessary for the shelving to present an ornate or finished appearance.

The principal objects of the invention include: 'Ihe use of a minimum number of parts; s impliiied assembly; adaptability of the parts to various shelving arrangements; removable shelves carrying their own attaching means; and a. iinished appearance to the completed shelving. l

Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which K Fig. 1 is a perspective view of book shelving embodying the teachings of this invention, two units being shown combined;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the manner of assembling th'e cornice, corner piece and molding to the front of the shelving;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 l of Fig.- 3 showing particularly the manner in which the removable shelves are heldin place;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing iurth'er details o f construction;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the shelves;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing an application of the principles of this invention to double row sections;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of the shelving to a recessed wall;

Figs-9 and 10 are diagrammatic views illustrating the application of the shelving units to the inside and outside corners, respectively, of a wall. f

It will be understood that the specific description and illustration of preferred forms of the invention are for the purpose of disclosure only and do not impose limitations upon the appended claims, except as may be requiredby the prior art. I

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the shelving is preferably made from sheet metal and consists generally of sides 9, tops 10, bottoms 11, backs 12, iinishing ends 13, shelves 14, moldings 15, cornices 16, and corner blocks 17.

The sides 9 are channel-shaped (Fig. 3) and are provided with outwardly extending flanges, 18. The top and bottom of the sides are bent laterally as indicated at 19 (Fig. `4) and then centrally,as

' shown at 20.

' the cornice 16. The vrear edge ofthe` top is bent bolts and nuts 29 passing through the back 12 A unit of shelving is made by taking two side panels and securing themtogether by atop and A bottom panel 10 and 11, respectively, and a back 12. I

The top-10 (Fig. 4) is secured in place by bolts 6 and nuts 21 which pass through downwardly extending flanges 22 of the top. The front portion of the top is bent downwardly at 23 (Fig. 2) and then inwardly at 24 to provide a. mounting for downwardly, as shown at 25 (Fig. 5) where it may be secured to the back 12 by bolts and nuts 26.

The bottom 11 is secured in .place by bolts and nuts 27 passing 'through the sides 9 and downwardly extending side i'langes 28, and by l5 and a downwardly extending iiange v30 at the rear edge of the bottom. "The front edge is bent downwardly as indicated at31 and then inwardly,

as shown at 32 to give 'a iinished appearance to 20 `the bottom and to prevent dirt fand dust from gathering beneath the shelvingj The back 12 is provided with top and bottom anges 33 and 34, respectively, the latter being bent back upon itself as shown in Fig. 5, and side flanges 35 which are also bent back upon themselves (Fig. 3) for the'purpose of reinforcement.

If the unit is to be used at one end of a row of shelving, a iinishng end 13 is applied to the outside side panel 9. Y The iinishing end is also in the form of a channel' and is provided with an outwardly extending flange 36 and an-inwardly extending flange 37. The finishing end is secured to the side by bolts landv nuts 38, which pass through the flange 36 of the ilnishing end and ange 18 of the side. The same bolts and nuts also clamp a plurality of the clips 39 to the outer faces of the mating flanges 36 and 18. 'I'he clips are provided with notched ends 40, the apex 41 of which are slightly spaced from the adjacent ilanges of the `finishing end 13 andv side 9. .This permits the molding strip 15, which is provided with inwardly turned ilanges 42, to be snapped over theclips and be held firmly in place. The molding strip completely covers the anges 18 and 36 and hides the joint from view. The construction of the clip is such that the molding may be removed at any time when the shelving is to be dismantled.

i 'I'he 'rear flange 3'I`fof vthe finishing end abuts the ange 18 of the side'andis held in place `by metal screws 43 which also passI through .the

flange 35 ofthe back12.' The top and bottom of the finishing end are bent laterally at 44 and 55 of the shelving.

If the shelving consists of a single unit, the other end is fitted with a finishing end identical with the one :lust described. The cornice 16 is then applied by snapping the inwardly turned flanges 47 over clips 48 provided on the front wall 23 of the top. The corner pieces 17, which are preferably cast to give them weight and massive appearance, and which are also provided with inwardly turned anges 49, are then snapped in place over the top clips 39 on the flanges 18 and 36, to complete the single unit shelving. The corner pieces may, of course, be stamped or drawn from sheet metal, or otherwise fabricated.

If a multiple unit shelving is desired similar to that shown in Fig. l, the sides 9, 9, of two identical units are brought together as shown in Fig. 3 and secured by bolts and nuts 49 and 50. the former joining the rear flanges together, and the latter the front flanges. As before, clips 39 are secured to the outer faces of the front flanges 18 to permit the molding 15 to be snapped into place.

It will thus be seen that any number of sections may be joined end to end by merely passing suitable bolts through the outwardly extending flanges of the sides 9 and then `applying flnishingends to the end sections. The molding strips 15, cornersl and corner posts 17 may always be quickly mapped in place.

The construction for double row sections (see Fig. 7) is exactly the same except that the common backs 51 are perfectly flat and the sides 52 do not have outwardly extending flanges at the back 0f the shelving. The nishlng ends 53,101:v

double row sections correspond in shape to the sides 9, except that they are substantially twice as wide. The method of attaching the front flanges of the sides to each other and to the finishing ends and the provision of clips for snapping the molding, cornice, and corner blocks into place is exactly the same as has been previously described. It will be understood that suitable fastening means connect the rear flanges of the sides 52 to the back 5l and that the several sections are united and the nnishing ends applied after the backs are fastened to the sides.

Forshelvingthatisto beplacedinarecessed wall (Fig. 8), the sides 9, backs 12, tops and bottoms 10 and 11, respectively' (not shown) may be used as before. The only difference between the construction shown in Fig.; 8 and that shown in Figs. 1 and 3 consists inthe elimination of the finishing ends, strips 54 being substituted in their place. These strips are bent forwardly at 55 and rearwardly at 56 forpurposcs which are obvious.

In Fig. 9, there is shown an applicationv of the shelving to an inside corner. Sides 9 and lbacks 12 may be used as before. the only new parts which are required beingtops and bottoms which are shaped to fill the corner and are provided with the necessary flanges for attachment to the sides 9 and backs 12. 'Ihe front wall of the top and bottom is indicated at 57.

In Fig. l0, there is shown an application of the shelving to an outside corner. Here, all that is required is to place the shelving shown in Fig. l along the side ofthe respective walls and join the corners by tops and bottoms having suitable flanges for attachment to the finishing ends 13. It will be noted, however, that the rear iianges including the flange 37 is omitted from the finlshingend 13' becauseitisnecessarytosecure centrally at 45 to give a smooth finish to the top the triangular tops and bottoms to the finishing ends before connecting with the sections placed against the wall. The front wall of the top and bottom is indicated at 58.

It will be understood that in the form of construction shown in Figs. 9 and i0, suitable shelves may be placed between the tops and bottoms.

The shelves '14 may be of any suitable construction, but preferably consist of a top face 59 having front and rear edges bent downwardly at 60, inwardly at 61, and upwardly at 62 to provide reinforcements for the shelf. The ends 63 are also bent downwardly and are provided with notches 64 to receive the supporting lugs.

A series of uniformly spaced apertures 65 are provided in the sides 9 for receiving xed lugs 66 secured to the inner side of one of the ends 63 (Fig. 4) and the movable lugs 67 which are pivoted by brackets 68 on the under side of the shelf. The movable lugs 67 are preferably formed as an integral part of a shank 69 which engages the brackets 68.

'I'he shelf is placed in position by tilting the shelf downwardly to the right (see Fig. 1) .and engaging the fixed lugs 66 in the desired apertures 65. The left end of the shelf is then lowered and the swinging lugs 67 will automatically find the corresponding apertures in the opposite side 9. 0f course the lugs 67 `may be guided into place if necessary.

The shelf is removed by simply lifting on the left side of the shelf whereupon the pivoted lugs 67 are automatically disengaged and the shelf can be removed.

It will be seen from the above description that the parts used in constructing shelving accordingtothisinventionarefewandmaybeused in various arrangements. The entire shelving may be quickly assembled or disassembled, and the finished product presents a pleasing and ornate appearance. Books can be removed from adjacent the sides without interference from the molding, or from any detaching screws or bolts. The ease with which the shelves may be adjusted to the desired height is another distinctive feature of the invention.

Many modifications will suggest themselves to thoseskiiled intheart. Theclips 39 and48mav be riveted or welded to the flanges 18 and 23, respectively, or they may be formed by stamping or stripping suitable ears from the side and top material to provide a grip for the molding and cornice pieces. The claims should be interpreted in the light of these and other possible modincations.

What I claim is:

i. In sheet metal shelving, two spaced channelshaped sides provided with forwardly projecting flanges, a top and bottom holding the sides inparallel spaced relation, finishing ends adapted to be placed against the outer faces of the sides and having forwardly projecting flanges mating with the corresponding flanges of the sides. fastening means joining the mating nanges, clips secured to the outer faces of the mating flanges, and moulding strips adapted to be snapped into place over the mating flanges, and be held in place by said clips, to completely cover the mating flanges. the clips and the flange fastening means.

2. In sheet metal shelving, a unit consisting of two spaced channel-shaped sides each provided with front and rear outwardly extending nantes,

said sides being placed with their channels opening outwardly, a top and bottom holding the sides in parallel spaced relation, and a back provided With outwardly extending flanges mating with the corresponding rear flanges of the sides and secured thereto. v

3. In sheet metal shelving, the combination of two or more sections, the adjoining sections of which include sides adapted to abut one another and be joined together, said sides being vertically channel shaped with the channels opening outwardly to provide a space between the abutting sides, the marginal flanges of the channels being flanged outwardly, fastening means joining the mating flanges of sides of adjacent sections in front and in rear, clips secured to the outer faces of the front flanges, and a moulding strip adapted to be snapped into place over said front flanges and be held in place by said clips, to completely cover and hide from view the front connection of the sides.

4. In sheet metal shelving, a side having a lateral il'ange at its front edge terminating in a forwardly extendingflange, a vertical member abutting the side and having a forwardly extending flange mating with the forwardly extending flange ofthe side, means for fastening the mating flanges together, and means for removably securing a moulding strip over said flanges to cover the joint, said lateral flange being sufficient in depth to permit books placed next to the side to be removed Without interference from the mould- 5. A sheet metal shelving comprising hollow side walls and shelves carried thereby, the walls comprising a pair of channel form plates having forwardly projecting flanges at their meeting edges at the front of the shelving, L-shaped clips secured to the last-named flanges and having their laterally projecting flanges deflected forwardly, and a channel molding of spring metal for covering the forwardly projecting flanges and engaging back of the margins of the clips.

6. A sheet metal shelving comprising hollow side walls and shelves carried thereby, the walls comprising a pair of channel form plates having forwardly and `rearwardly projecting flanges at their meeting' edges, L-shaped clips secured to the forwardly projecting flanges and having their laterally projecting flanges deflected forwardly, a spring metal channel vmolding covering the forwardly projecting flanges and engaging back of FRITZ A. SAAF. 

